Commentary for Kelim 2:4
פַּנָּס שֶׁיֶּשׁ בּוֹ בֵית קִבּוּל שֶׁמֶן, טָמֵא. וְשֶׁאֵין בּוֹ, טָהוֹר. מְגוּפַת הַיּוֹצְרִין שֶׁהוּא פוֹתֵחַ בָּהּ, טְהוֹרָה. וְשֶׁהוּא גוֹמֵר בָּהּ, טְמֵאָה. מַשְׁפֵּךְ שֶׁל בַּעֲלֵי בָתִּים, טָהוֹר. וְשֶׁל רוֹכְלִין, טָמֵא, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא שֶׁל מִדָּה, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶן בְּתֵירָא. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא מַטֵּהוּ עַל צִדּוֹ וּמֵרִיחַ בּוֹ לַלּוֹקֵחַ:
If a lantern [of earthenware] has a reservoir for oil it is susceptible to impurity; if it has not, it is not susceptible. A potter's mold with which he begins [to shape the clay] is not susceptible to impurity; but that with which he finishes it is susceptible. A funnel belonging to householders is not susceptible to impurity, but one that belongs to peddlers is susceptible, since it serves also as a measure: the words of Rabbi Yehudah ben Beteira. But Rabbi Akiva says: because he lays it on its side to let the buyer smell it.
Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
פנס – a kind of earthenware lantern that is perforated in its walls/sides that from them the light goes out, and we place the candle inside it so that wind does not extinguish it.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kelim
A lantern that has a receptacle for oil is susceptible to impurity, but one that has none is not susceptible. All of the vessels mentioned in this mishnah are earthenware vessels. If the lantern has a receptacle for oil, it is susceptible to impurity. If it does not, it cannot be made impure. Even though it has walls, they are only there to protect the fire and not to contain the oil.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
שאין בו – a receptacle for oil. Even though it has a receptacle for a candle.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kelim
A potter's mould on which one begins to shape the clay is not susceptible to impurity, but that on which one finishes it is susceptible. The mould on which the potter begins to shape the clay does not have a receptacle, therefore it is not susceptible to impurity. However, the mould on which he finishes making the vessel does have a receptacle and therefore it is susceptible to impurity.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
טהור – for a receptacle for a lantern has no inside other than the candle/lantern that is laid upon it.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kelim
A funnel for home use is not susceptible to impurity, but that of merchants is susceptible because it also serves as a measure, the words of Rabbi Judah ben Batera. Rabbi Akiva says: because he puts it on its side to let the buyer smell it. A funnel doesn't hold the liquids or dry goods poured into it, therefore it is not susceptible to impurity. However, since a merchant uses the funnel for measuring (sticking his finger below to hold in that which he is measuring), his funnel is susceptible to impurity. Rabbi Akiva agrees that the funnel used by the merchant is impure but for a different reason. Occasionally, the merchant will tilt the funnel on its side so that a little bit of liquid stays in it. This qualifies it as a receptacle.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
מגופת היוצרים (potter’s mould) – it is similar to stones of earthenware that the potters make the vessels upon them.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
את שהוא פוחת בה (begins to shape the clay) – meaning to say, the mould that the potter casts upon it the plaster and engraves upon it with his hands the form of the vessel.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
טהורה – because it lacks a rim/border around it and there is no inside here.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
ושהוא גומר בה – and the stopper that he places upon the vessel after its form has been completed has an “inside,” and therefore, it is impure. But my Rabbis/teachers explained, that that there is a vessel/utensil for potters that is called a מגופה/stopper or bung and some of them have narrow openings and some have wide openings; that which he opens it by, meaning to say, that he will eventually widen its opening, is pure, that its work has not yet been completed, and it is like the lump/shapeless earthenware vessel. But when he completes it, that he places as such at the narrow opening, it is impure. But our Mishnah is according to Rabbi Meir who stated (Tractate Betza 32a and Tosefta Kelim Bava Kamma, Chapter 3, Halakha 13) : When do earthenware vessels become susceptible to receiving impurity? From the time when their manufacture is complete.” But not according to the Rabbis who state (Tractate Kelim, Chapter 4, Mishnah 4): “from when they are fired in the furnace.” And the first explanation appears to me to be essential.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
משפך – a vessel/utensil that we place on the mouth of a jug or on the mouth of a leather bottle/skin when we want to fill it with wine or oil.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
ושל רוכלין – which is small and made to bring in oil to small flasks. And it holds a LOG or two LOGS and the peddler places his finger from underneath it corresponding to the hole/perforation and measures with it the oil, and removes his finger and the oil descends to the vessels of the purchaser. And it is made for reception and is susceptible to receive impurity.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Kelim
רבי עקיבא אומר מפני שמטהו על צדו – that is to say even if it is not of a measure, the funnel of a peddler always is defiled because he turns it on its side to receive in it a bit in order that the purchase can smell from it m and it is found that it is made to [be susceptible to] receive defilement. And the Halakha is according to Rabbi Akiva.
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